Friday, November 19, 2010

This is a wonderful children's book that explores and explains how even just one person can have an effect for many years to come. It starts by looking at the life of Nobel laureate Norman Borlaug who is sometimes called "the father of the revolution," and whose studies and developments have led to many, many people being able to have food.

A story about Borlaug, in and of itself, would be an uplifting and motivating tell, but the author goes a bit further. He begins to unravel the history, backwards, at who helped and assisted Borlaug, and back many years to someone who probably would have never guessed at the role he would play in the future.

The story itself was a little confusing to me at first, and felt awkward because it tells a story, goes back in time, comes "up" to where the story begins, goes back, etc. However, after the first reading, this makes perfectly good sense and is an effective way to show the ripple effect of each of the lives of the people involved.

The book is slightly larger than many children's books which makes it great for reading to a group. Also, the pictures and illustrations are excellent and colorful and really held the attention of my children (8 and 5) and I look forward to giving copies of it to the children that I know.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

In this book, MacArthur takes issues with the "weak, mild, gentle" Jesus we often see represented.

Throughout the book, the author takes an event from Jesus' life, gives the historical context, then proceeds to show how that event could be applicable in a believer's life today. For me, he could have stopped after the first two "steps" because I found that to be educational and encouraging. Many times, the application was misused because in most, if not all, of the instances written about, Jesus was openly rebuking the religious leaders of his time. ONLY the religious leaders. Many times, I see Christians embrace the teachings similar to what MacArthur has expounded upon and use them to openly confront those they feel are the enemy -- in today's fundamental Christian world, that is usually the homosexual, the atheist, and the Muslim. This application of the life of Christ is not only grossly wrong, but counterproductive to the entire message of Jesus.

My overarching opinion of the book, though, is positive. I was renewed and rejuvenated just reading about Jesus' life and what all he did will on Earth. It was encouraging to me, and I would recommend it to anyone wanting to learn more about his life while here on Earth.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”